The Taylor Guitar Factory

One day I surprised Daddy and the kids with a factory tour at Taylor Guitars. As soon as we arrived they gave us tour passes, protective eyewear and headsets to wear. The headsets made the tour so enjoyable. Often the people in back are struggling to hear the guide, but this way we could hear perfectly even amidst the loud machines.

We began by walking to the outdoor wood storage area. The wood sits here for awhile to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the area. Next they are moved inside to again adjust to their climate/humidity controlled area.

It's hard to find enough wood that is wide enough for the body of the guitar, so instead, they cut it into  layers then glue two pieces together side by side. This machine presses them together as the adhesive dries. Then they are cut into the top and bottom pieces of the guitar body.

The rosette (decoration around the center circle) is hand applied with shells or other items, depending on what was ordered.

Some models have very intricate detail along the neck of the guitar which is also applied by hand.

Inside the guitar are wooden braces that affect the sound of the guitar. 

The sides are bent by machines and then carefully assembled inch by inch with meticulous care and patience.

The frets are different sizes, so they are hand placed, then pressed into the wood with this machine.

Every single guitar is inspected, tested and played for quality control. It's extremely impressive to see the pride in workmanship at this factory. There are signs at each station showing acceptable vs unacceptable qualities. Most of the photos I couldn't even see a difference. They are certain to only release high quality guitars with absolutely no blemishes or mistakes. I only wish other manufacturers  (particularly automotive and RV companies) would be so concerned about delivering their best product!

This station is where the finish and sometimes paint is applied by machine.

My sweet Journey Girl testing out the finished product for herself.

This isn't a typical factory where everything looks the same. Many of these guitars have been specially ordered. The options that Taylor offers are seemingly endless between the type of wood used for each section, the rosette, neck designs, paint, and more. It's fun to see how they handle making hundreds of different guitars all at the same time. We really enjoyed our tour!